Propagators in Russia, China, and Iran disseminate misinformation regarding an assault on Charlie Kirk - Misinformation campaigns perpetrated by Russia, China, and Iran claim false reports of the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
In a shocking turn of events, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated last week, and the aftermath has seen a wave of disinformation campaigns from state media in Russia, China, and Iran.
Tyler Robinson, who was arrested and charged with murder by the US authorities, allegedly shot Kirk from a rooftop. Kirk was considered one of the most influential right-wing activists and a mouthpiece for US President Donald Trump among youth.
The US government, meanwhile, has found itself in the midst of controversy, as it reportedly stopped agreements with Germany and over 20 other countries worldwide to combat disinformation campaigns. The Global Engagement Center, a program designed to monitor and fight foreign interference and disinformation, was shut down in April, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio justifying this by saying it was necessary to preserve 'free speech.'
Utah Governor Spencer Cox warned last week that enemies of the United States could exploit Kirk's assassination, citing bots from Russia, China, and other countries trying to spread disinformation and incite violence.
Newsguard, a third-party organisation, has reported that state media in the three countries mentioned Kirk over 6,200 times since his murder last week. The basis for this disinformation, according to Newsguard, was Kirk's criticism of US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
Most of the disinformation about the assassination was spread by Russian media. Russian media tried to link the assassination to Kirk's opposition to US military aid to Kyiv, while Iranian state media made unfounded speculations about the involvement of the Israeli Mossad in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Chinese state media, too, spread disinformation about the alleged assassin Tyler Robinson, claiming that he had donated money to Donald Trump's 2020 campaign.
As the world grapples with the fallout of this assassination and the subsequent disinformation campaigns, it becomes increasingly important to remain vigilant and to fact-check information before sharing it. The US government, for its part, has yet to comment on the specific allegations of disinformation spread by state media in Russia, China, and Iran.
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